Help! First archipelago map.

[Bagpuss]

I get Mansa Musa (randomly) which I consider to be a lucky break; lots of sea tiles = lots of commerce.

Anyway, a little while in, and I think I'm doing OK. My initial landmass is only large enough for three cities and very little fresh water (only just about to finish researching CS), and not much in the way of water resources. Lots of hills though and three gold! My pop is obviously pretty stifled meaning I can only work one of the golds until I can propagate my irrigation though, so I'm now about to start expanding to surrounding islands.

Like I say, I think I'm doing OK, up to this point. My scouting has just discovered Vicky in a corner of the map though. Her starting landmass is enormous (for the map) and she's been busy making use of it. My GNP is just about on a level with hers, but everywhere else she's killing me (nearly double my score). The way her pop's expanding I guess she's even going to blow past my GNP very soon. She's too far away to attack. Tokugawa is the only civ that not on good terms with her and he's the weakest civ in the game. Also, he doesn't like me very much (natch).

Two questions:
1) Could I have done much about this or did I just get unlucky with Vicky getting such a favourable and isolated start?
2) Is it worth continuin this game? Do I have any realistic chance of hauling VIcky back in from this position (on Noble)?

 

[jerVL/kg]

First of all, it would help if you post screenshots and/or a save, that way people can give you more specific advice.

Archipelago is my favorite map, though I always choose "Snaky Continents" which gives you much larger islands to work with. When playing archipelago, you need Sailing ASAP. Naturally, it's best to start with a civ that has Fishing as a starting tech, though Mansa's not a bad choice -- Financial is also a strong trait.

You also need to explore your local island chain as soon as possible; if you can't wait for Galleys, build a work boat and have it explore. Three cities sounds like an awfully small empire, it sounds like you didn't explore much or you got boxed in really early.

Did you build any Wonders? Great Lighthouse & Colossus are very important on an archipelago map.

 

[Bagpuss]

I had clams and bug... um, very little fresh water around my capital site so sailing was the first thing I researched.

It never occurred to me that you could go exploring with a work boat. Thanks for that tip. I'll see if I can post a saved game up for assessment!

EDIT: No, didn't get either wonder. I think I was probably researching the wrong techs to get to them quickly, but that's a lesson learned.

 

[KMadCandy]

It never occurred to me that you could go exploring with a work boat. Thanks for that tip. I'll see if I can post a saved game up for assessment!

some folks don't realize that boats that can usually not cross ocean can indeed go into ocean squares if they're in your cultural borders. just a thought about a handy way to galley a settler to another island if you want to early game.

lmao at crabs called bugs, they do look that way don't they?

 

[br_casino]

lmao at crabs called bugs, they do look that way don't they?

I just think he/she didn't want to say that he/she had crabs, lol.

 

[Cam_H]

Much as jerVL/kg suggests, a screenshot or saved game would be handy.

Two questions:
1) Could I have done much about this or did I just get unlucky with Vicky getting such a favourable and isolated start?
2) Is it worth continuin this game? Do I have any realistic chance of hauling VIcky back in from this position (on Noble)?

... so I'm now about to start expanding to surrounding islands ...

I certainly wouldn't give the game away. You have room to grow and you're still in the Medieval Era. I'm not sure what you can do about leveraging the other two Gold mines, but if irrigation chaining fresh water to the city is possible, then before you know it you'll have a capital with three Gold mines in Bureaucracy ... Victoria should be wary of you! If it's not possible to feed the city and work all of the Gold, is it at all possible to settle another city that can work the other Gold mine(s) (that will come with severe fat-X overlap)?

Technology-wise, after Civil Service head towards Machinery and along a different path; Construction. With Machinery you'll pick up the other requisite for Macemen, while Construction (if you haven't got it) will give you Catapults and possibly War Elephants. Due to your commerce-oriented and not-over-expanded empire, on Noble you should be pretty much the technology leader. So, I would say that you are well positioned to initiate some Medieval warfare. Work towards a big Stack of Doom; six or more Galleys, two Triremes, and when you can, start filling them with Maces, Catapults, and maybe a Skirmisher or two and a Spearman or two ... depending upon your future enemy's resources (if you're worried about England, then maybe that's your target?). Such a force will take time to put together, but unless you are very unlucky - they should pay for themselves down the track. When you land in enemy territory - try to land on a tile with defensive terrain next to a target city!

Anyway, food for thought. Best of luck!